Method and apparatus for harnessing pressure of oil and gaswells for generating electricity

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus associated with oil and gas wells for supplying pressure from such wells for driving a turbine. The apparatus utilizes a balancing pressure control system comprisng a valve in a bypass line around the turbine and controlled by a pressure regulator valve on the output side of the turbine. The balancing pressure control system allows pressure through the bypass line selectively to maintain a uniform pressure in the output of the turbine when the demands on the turbine fluctuate. The system includes manual shut-off valves and overload regulator valves. An embodiment of the invention includes a control system on the well side of the turbine for supplying uniform pressure to the turbine.

United States Patent Wood METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR I-IARNESSING PRESSURE OF OIL AND GASWELLS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY May7, 1974 Primary Examiner-Edgar W. Geoghegan Assistant ExaminerH. Burks, Sr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Eugene M. Eckelman [5 7 ABSTRACT A method and apparatus associated with oil and gas wells for supplying pressure from such wells for driving a turbine. The apparatus utilizes a balancing pressure control system comprisng a valve in a bypass line around the turbine and controlled by a pressure regulator valve on the output side of the turbine. The balancing pressure v.control system allows pressure through the bypass line selectively to maintain a uniform pressure in the output of the turbine when the demands on the turbine fluctuate. The system includes manual shut-off valves and overload regulator valves. An embodiment of the invention includes a control system on the well side of the turbine for supplying uniform pressure to the turbine.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures I METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HARNESSING PRESSURE OF OIL AND GASWELLS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method and apparatus for harnessing pressure of oil and gas wells for generating electricity.

The potential of utilizing the pressure from oil and gas wells for driving a turbine, such as for generating electricity, has long been recognized since such source of power is endless in quantity and is a free by-product of already existing systems. In addition to being a great source of power and inexpensive, the power developed from such systems would consume no gas or oil and thus no pollutants are deposited into the atmosphere.

Such source of power has not heretofore been successfully utilized, particularly for generating electricity, since various problems are involved. One of the serious problems is that because of the variable load requirements of a turbogenerator, due to fluctuating power demands, it has not been possible to maintain a balanced line pressure downstream from the turbine. Such a balanced line pressure downstream from the turbine is necessary for feeding to subsequent stations or outlet service points. i

SUMMARY OF. -T HE INVENTION According to the present invention and forming a primary objective thereof, a method and apparatus are provided for harnessing the pressure of oil and gas wells in a manner which is capable of driving a turbine and at the same time providing a balanced line pressure downstream from the turbine.

A more particular object is to provide a method and apparatus for harnessing the pressure from oil and gas wells utilizing a bypass line extending from a point on the well side of the turbine and a point downstream from the turbine and including a regulating valve operated by pressure control means in the downstream side of the turbine,'such pressure control valve means and regulating valve serving to allow selected bypass of pressure from the well to maintain a uniform pressure in such downstream side even though the discharge pressure from the turbine may fluctuate.'

Anotherobject is to provide apparatus of the type described which is simplified in construction.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the type described employing an embodiment utilizing pressure control means on the well side of the generator for supplying uniform pressure to the turbine.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become. apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a first embodiment illustrating the invention; and FIG. 2 is also a diagrammatic view illustrating the in vention but showing a modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring in particular to FIG. 1, which shows .azfirst embodiment, the numeral 10 designates the output line from a natural gas or oil well in which a sufficient pres sure exists to drive a turbine. In this output line, there is mounted a turbogenerator 12 of conventional construction. The connection between well output line and the turbogenerator may be accomplished by suitable conduit means 14. The output from the turbine 12 comprises a conduit 16, and this conduit leads to ser* vice areas or other stations, not shown. Pumping stations may be located at downstream points for moving the gas and oildown the line.

A manual shut-off valve 18 is employed in the output line 10 for on-off operation of the well. In addition, an automatic shut-off valve 20 is provided in the output line 10 and is controlled in its operation by pressure op-. erated mechanism 22 in the conduit 16. The mechanism 22 is of well known construction, as is the valve 20, wherein upon the mechanism 22 being subjected to a selected pressure, it closes valve 20. Valve 20 and the operating mechanism 22 therefor may be electrically operated as shown and are connected by suitable circuitry 24. This automatic shut-off means is used in the event of a backload or the like downstream from the turbine or in the event of other undesirable conditions which may exist in the downstream part of the system.

The turbogenerator 12 is provided with a governor 26 of wellknown construction which controls the output of the turbine. This governor in turn is operated by operation of the turbogenerator as determined by the demand. Such system is not detailed since it is of well known structure and operation. Thus,.it is apparent that the'discharge pressure from the turbine in the turbogenerator 12 to the conduit 16 may vary as deter mined by the .demand on the turbogenerator and if the demand is less than maximum, the pressure in conduit 16 would tend, to be reduced except for mechanism now to be described.

For the purpose of maintaining uniform pressure in the line 16 and thus forming a system for effectively harnessing the pressure of oil and gas wells, a bypass conduit 28 is connected between the input conduit 1.4 to the turbogenerator and the output conduit 16 from said turbogenerator. Incorporated in the bypass conduit 28 is a regulating valve 30 controlled in its operation by a pressure regulator 32mounted in the conduit 16 downstream from the connection of the conduit 28 with said conduit 16. Regulating valve 30 and pressure regulator 32 therefor are of conventional construction, preferably being electrically operated and connected by .suitable circuitry 34. The two members 30 and .32 are arranged such that when the discharge pressure in the conduit 16 from turbogenerator '12 reduces, valve .30 is opened an amount to allow pressure from the well to bypass the turbine and bring the pressure up in the conduit 16 to the desired pressure. In other words, the members 30 and 3.2 are arranged to selectively allow bypass pressure from the well through the line ,28 to maintain a uniform pressure in the conduit ,16 upon fluctuating operation of the turbogenerator 12. If the turbogenerator 12 is completely shut down, sufficient bypass will be allowed through the bypass conduit 28 to still maintain the pressure in the conduit '16.

Ashut-off valve v36 is mounted in the bypass conduit 28 between the regulating-valve30 and the connection of the conduit 28 .with the output from the well. T his valve is manually operated and its purpose is to close down the bypass 28 from the system if desired.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment which, similar to FIG. 1, employs an imput conduit 14' to a turbogenerator 12', an output conduit 16', a bypass 28' extending from the input conduit 14' to the output conduit 16' around the turbogenerator, and a regulating valve 30', in the bypass 28' controlled in its operation by a pressure regulator 32 installed in the conduit 16' downstream from the connection of conduit 28 with conduit 16' to maintain a balanced line pressure in the output conduit 16 regardless of the output of the turbogenerator 12. In this embodiment, a shut-off valve 18 is provided at the output of the well as in the FIG. 1 embodiment.

In the system of FIG. 2, additional control means are provided for maintaining a uniform input pressure to the turbogenerator 12'. For this purpose, a regulating valve 40 is mounted in the input conduit 14 between the well and the connection of the bypass conduit 28 with the conduit 14'. Regulating valve 40 is controlled in its operation by a pressure regulator 42 mounted in the conduit 14' between the connection of the bypass conduit 28 in conduit 14' and the turbogenerator. The two mechanisms 40 and 42 are connected by electric circuitry 44 and serve to control pressure to the turbogenerator. That is, not only is there uniform-output in the conduit 16' but also there is a uniform inlet to the turbogenerator 12. Such uniform inlet may be desirable in some cases.

FIG. 2 illustrates that the source to input conduit 14' may come from more than one well. For this purpose a manifold 46 is connected between input conduit 14' and the other well a. Such arrangement may be advantageous where one well by itself may not have the necessary volume to maintain a steady drive force on the turbogenerator, or where it is desired to switch from one well to another or manifold two or more wells together to drive a larger installation. Well 10a has a manual shut-off valve 18a to control on-off operation thereof.

According to the present invention a method and apparatus are provided for harnessing the pressure of oil and gas wells to drive a turbogenerator in a manner which makes such system feasible for the intended use. That is, as stated hereinbefore, such a system has not been deemed satisfactory since the output from the turbogenerator fluctuates due to the demand thereon and systems or outputs downstream are rendered inoperative. According to the present invention, however, the bypass and control means provide the uniform pressure necessary'to make an operating system. The present system also provides a source of power without polluting either the air, water or ground.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herein shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without deparing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. 1

Having thus described my invention, I claim;

1. Apparatus for harnessing pressure from oil and-gas wells comprising a turbine, inlet conduit means feeding into said turbine and arranged for connection to the outlet of a well, outlet conduit means leading from said turbine to a downstream line,- by-pass conduit means extending from said inlet conduit means to the said outlet conduit means, valve means in said by-pass conduit means, and pressure responsive means in said outlet conduit means arranged to operate said valve means to by-pass pressure from the inlet conduit means around the turbine to the outlet conduit means in a controlled amount such as to automatically maintain a stable and predetermined pressure in the downstream line upon fluctuating output pressures of the turbine.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a shut-off valve in said inlet conduit means, and pressure respon sive means in said outlet conduit means controlling said shut-off valve in an arrangement whereby pressure through said inlet conduit means is automatically shut off upon said outlet conduit means being subjected to a backload pressure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a shut off valve in said inlet conduit means, pressure responsive means in said outlet conduit controlling said shut ofi valve in an arrangement whereby pressure-through said inlet conduit means is automatically shut ofi upon said outlet conduit means being subjected to a backload pressure, and manual shut off valve means in said inlet conduit means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including control means in said inlet conduit means arranged to admit a uniform pressure to the turbine.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said control means comprises a valve in said inlet conduit means on the well side of .the connection of said bypass means with said inlet conduit means and pressure responsive means in said inlet conduit means connected on the turbine side of the connection of said bypass'means with said inlet conduit means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 including second inlet conduit means communicating with said first mentioned inlet conduit means arranged to be connected to one or more additional wells.

7. A method for harnessing pressure from oil and gas wells for driving a turbine and maintaining a stable and predetermined pressure in a downstream line from the turbine which is in communication with the discharge of the turbine, comprising the steps of supplying pressure to the turbine from a well for driving the turbine, and by-passing pressure from a point disposed at the upstream side of the turbine to a point at the downstream side of the latter in a controlled amount to maintain a stable and predetermined pressure in the downstream line upon fluctuating output pressures from the turbine.

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1. Apparatus for harnessing pressure from oil and gas wells comprising a turbine, inlet conduit means feeding into said turbine and arranged for connection to the outlet of a well, outlet conduit means leading from said turbine to a downstream line, by-pass conduit means extending from said inlet conduit means to the said outlet conduit means, valve means in said bypass conduit means, and pressure responsive means in said outlet conduit means arranged to operate said valve means to by-pass pressure from the inlet conduit means around the turbine to the outlet conduit means in a controlled amount such as to automatically maintain a stable and predetermined pressure in the downstream line upon fluctuating output pressures of the turbine.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a shut-off valve in said inlet conduit means, and pressure responsive means in said outlet conduit means controlling said shut-off valve in an arrangement whereby pressure through said inlet conduit means is automatically shut off upon said outlet conduit means being subjected to a backload pressure.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a shut off valve in said inlet conduit means, pressure responsive means in said outlet conduit controlling sAid shut off valve in an arrangement whereby pressure through said inlet conduit means is automatically shut off upon said outlet conduit means being subjected to a backload pressure, and manual shut off valve means in said inlet conduit means.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 including control means in said inlet conduit means arranged to admit a uniform pressure to the turbine.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said control means comprises a valve in said inlet conduit means on the well side of the connection of said bypass means with said inlet conduit means and pressure responsive means in said inlet conduit means connected on the turbine side of the connection of said bypass means with said inlet conduit means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 including second inlet conduit means communicating with said first mentioned inlet conduit means arranged to be connected to one or more additional wells.
 7. A method for harnessing pressure from oil and gas wells for driving a turbine and maintaining a stable and predetermined pressure in a downstream line from the turbine which is in communication with the discharge of the turbine, comprising the steps of supplying pressure to the turbine from a well for driving the turbine, and by-passing pressure from a point disposed at the upstream side of the turbine to a point at the downstream side of the latter in a controlled amount to maintain a stable and predetermined pressure in the downstream line upon fluctuating output pressures from the turbine. 